Machine for producing bent sippers



Oct. 28, 1941. I F. c. HAMILTON 6 I MACHINE FOR PRODUCING BENT SIPPERS Filed Nov. 50, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FICA.

INVENTOR,

BY a a/M 7611 ATTORNEY.

FRANCIS CHAMILTONI Oct. 28, 1941.

4 ii Q4, i [8 I F I 1; i 3 4 x H 1 3 12 s 44 y/ 17 i 1 1? 1 13 v 15 1 9 t l 7 z in 2 10 14 10 11 11 Filed NOV. 30, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANCIS C. HAMlLTON BY WM ,Tw

ATT'ORNF Y.

Oct; 28, 1941.

F. c. HAMILTON MACHINE FOR PRODUCING BENT SIPPERS Filed Nov. 30, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG].

INVENTOR. FRANCIS C. HAMILTON BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 .fJT UNITE STAT MACHINE ronraonuome BENT SIPBERS Francis 0. Hamnmn, Columbia, 111., ssign of one-halfto L. Ray Schuessler, St. Louis, Mo. 1

" Application November 30, 1939, Serial No. 306,809

. x 12 Claims. This invention relates generally to machines for I producing sippers of the type employed as an aid ,in drinking liquids from receptacles, and

more specifically to machines for producing sippers which .;are provided with bends in their;

length so as to make more convenient the useof such-.sippers, the predominant object, of theinventcion being to provide an improved machine whichlis capable of convenient and efiicient use in providing sippers formed of thermo-plastic material with bends in their lengths,

.;As.is.quite generally known to the average person, the, familiar sippers, or straws as; they are ordinarily called, are straight, and because,

of this fact such straight sippers are not ,en-

tirely convenient to use. Thi is so because the,

straight sipper makes it necessary that a user of such a sipper lean forwardly so as to bring his mouth to, or close to, a position immediately above the receptacle with which the sipper is being used when the receptacle is supported on atable or counter; In the case of a grown person the forward leaning posture described may be assumed with some inconvenience, but inthe.

case of a child, or an unusually short person, the inconvenience, is substantial, usually -'requiring that the receptacle be held in the hands below the elevation of the table orcounter, or that the child" kneel on his chair or stool to bring his mouth-to theproper elevation. In the use of bent sippers however, the users thereof Whether children or grown persons, may assume substantially natural, upright postures at tables or counters and thereby eliminate the inconveni ences mentioned above.

Another inconvenience in ordinary straight sipper has to do withthe use thereof by a person in a reclining position, a sick. person, for instance, in which situation the ordi-- I arn aware that hospital patients are supplied with nary straight sipper is practically useless.

glass drinking tubes which are provided with bends in thelengths thereof, but the repeated use of such tubes is unsanitary. Additionally the glass drinking tubes referred to are relatively expensive when compared with an ordinary'sipper having'a bendtherein, and said glass drinking tubes are subject to breakage. By providing a sick person with a supply of bent sippers' of the type'produced with the aid of the improved maused .only once and then disposed of. Also the; question of breaka e of the glass drink ng t bes connection with the.

heretofore used 'is'entirely eliminated by the use of bent sippers, and the cost of supplying the sippers willbe very slight due to the fact that the bent sippers-- will cost very little more than I .thefamiliarordinary straightstraws.

The improved machine disclosed herein func tions in an efiicient manner to provide ordinary straight sippers formed of 'thermo-plastic material withbends in their lengths, the operation of the machineincludingthe application of heat to I the sippers at thepoints where it is desired that the sippers be, bent. An important feature of the invention isthat heat is applied to the sippers being produced by the-machine in such manner thatthere is no'undesirable distortion of the sippers at the point where the heat is applied thereto, but instead, smooth, symmetrical curves are formed in the sippers to provide bends which do not in anymanner restrict free passage of liquid, through the sippers. v

-Fig; 1 is a side elevation ofthe improved machine of the present inventions 'Fig. ,2-is' a perspectiveof one of the sipper receiving members of the machine.

=Fig..-3 isan enlarged vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. )l I Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 4- -4 of 1.

1 Fig. .5 is an enla rged fragmentary section taken on line 55of Fig. 1. I

' Fig. 6 is arr-enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 ofFig, 1'.

. Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary section. illustrating the discharge end of the. machine and showing the manner in which bent sippers are 'dischargedfromthe machine into receptacles provided to receive them. 1

. ig. '8 is a-perspectiveofone of the receptacles provided to receive bent sippers discharged from the machine, together with .the packing ,frame which is assembled witheachreceptacle when it is receiving bent'sippersto insure proper packing of the sippers within; the receptacle.

5 Fig. 9 is .an enlarged horizontal section illustrating the manner .of supporting the heat producing. means of [the machine for vertical adjustment, 1

Fig. 10 is a perspective of a bent sipper and showing by dotted linesthe sipper when in a straight condition. and when it has been partially bent to its ultimate, completely bent condition.

Inthe drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the -invention,. A designates the improved Inachine generally. The machine A includes a pair of upstanding supports I which are located at one endOf the machine, only one of saidsupports being shown in Fig. 1. The supports I are spaced 1 I apart transversely of the machine, said supports being secured to a floor or other supporting means and being extended upwardly therefrom. At the upper ends of the supports I bearings Z are provided which support for rotation a shaft 3 which extends transversely: of the machine. Spaced from the supports I longitudinally iof-the machine A is a similar pair of supports 4, one 01' which is shown in Fig. 1. supports I the supports dare secured to a floor which support for rotation ashaft tends transversely of the machine} hopper. The hopper is adapted to receive straight sippers which are to be provided with bends by the machine A, and said hopper is pro- As in the case of the" Fixedly mounted on the shaft 3 for rotation 3I therewith, and spaced longitudinally thereof, is

32* Operating ove'r 'the corre'spondii'i'g-lpairs of sprocket wheels! an a of-thshafts 3 and 6 is afpair of sprocket chains 9' which, qf course; are

1 spaced transVerseIy of the machine A, "the upp'er flights; ofsaid -sprock'et ohains' being suppor-ted for sliding movement by a pairofplates 'I 0' which a a're supported by and are secured to br ack'et'arm II that areextended yfrom the bearing portions 1 2-and5 ofthe supports I and 4} 'f L arried by" the associate pair of sprocket 5 chains 9 is a pluralityfof sipper receiving inemi bers l 2,- each of whichifismonstructed as shown' to the best advantagejin liigi each sipper-receiving member II -comprisesa' 3 plate 13 of angular format-i I V at one of its sides 'witha rib or web of'm-aterial 3 I4 that extends longitii" nally' of theplate and- 1 serves to impart to the plate the required strength g and rigidity. ,W'heneaclr sipper-re'ceiving 'mem- 5 her is'moving longitudinallyof"the ma'chine'"A I 'with the upper flights of the sprocket -fchainss i itis disposed'as is thesip-per receiving inember shown in the upper portion 'of "Fl gf3;:"that is to say; the curved portion I3a f the plateI3-is'at I I the bottom and slightly to on'e sidefoi the longi which is provided a pair I of sprocket I wheels 1 and=*fi$redly moun'ted' on 'the shaft 16 is a similar pair-of spaced prockei; I wheels-'8; the-"sprocket wheelsf'oi the sha'ft Gt-be 3 izig alined longitudinally of='- the 'macliir'iwvtith j the correspondingsprocketwh'eels' of the shaft heat producing element.- It is to benoted that 1 tudinal center of -saidplate, and the 'straight-por- 1 tions I3b of the plate divergeupwardly'andgont- 3 wardly 'from said-curvedportion I3a; E'ach sip -v I per-receiving member is provided with fiange' I portions I 5" which are located adjacent "to oppo site" ends of the plate portion thereofand are'; I parts of the rib or web of-material" Mfpand at the opposite; ends of the rplate portion-of -each sipper+receiyingmember flanges l B are provided which .are providedwithsipper=receiving notches" I 6,"correspon'ding notches of the opposed flanges I 6 of each sipperareceivingmemb'er being alined' I with each. other".longitudinally'foi 'the' Sipper-Ie 1 ceiving member; l Thesipper "-receiving members per-receiving member having 'a pair of 1 angular:

; pivotally atta'ch adjacent links of5the sprocket chains together. 1 r 1 I Arranged at-the'endpfthe' machine A atwhich I2 are secured to the sprocketfchains s; each Sip;

elements 11 secured to theflanges I5 thereoflandthese "angular; elements being attached to' the sprocket 'chainsby means oi the pivot pins which j the "shaft 3 is located is'ahopperjl8'which is'sup I 3 ported in -place by supportingmeans I 9 fixe'd to the upperportionsofthesupports I 'and to said' vided with a discharge opening I8 at its bottom through which sippers may pass. The hop- ,per'IB is disposed at such elevation that the top edges of the flanges I6 of the sipper-receiving t members I2 move beneath the bottom wall of the hopper in l close proximity thereto :as the sipper-receiving members travel-,with the top flights of the sprocket chains 9, so that the notches I6 in said flanges will receive sippers as they are discharged through the discharge opening I 8' of sociated-with said conductingsmeans'to control passage of electrical energy therethrough to thea I heat pro'ducing element 201 The= heat"produc'- ing element 20 is supported at one of its ends by- I a vertical web :of material'23- associatedwith the hopper I8 and at its opposite end b'y': a vertical A web of material 24 of an element which: is secured in place in a manner -to be hereinafter set forth, The opposite end portions 'of 'theiheat producing element-20 are bifurcated as shown: in

Fig. 9 and said bifurcatedend portions embracey the opposed webs of material 23 and 24',' there being set screws 25'employed to gfix the he'at pro w. I ducingelement with respect to said webs of ma terial and to permit of vertical adjustment of the the he'at producing element 20 not: absolutely parallel with respect ato'the upper-portions or the; sipper re'ceiving members married by" the upper;

flightsef" the sprocket chains 9, but :instead I the= end of the heat-producing element" at the hop per I8 is spaced a greater 'distance from' theupper portions of the I sipper-receiving members carried by the upperflights of the "sprocket ch'ains than-is the. opposite end of said heat-producing element.- 'The reason for-this arrangement wi'll' be hereinafter pointedout. I Also, it iwill 'b'e noted: that the windings of the resistance coil' ofithe heat-producing element 20 are not "uniform? throughout the lengthof the coils-1 This arrangement also will be explained later in thisspecific'ation. I I I The machine A includes. oppositely dispos'edi guiding members which extend'longitudinally' of the machine from a point approximately above theshaft 6 to a point beyond the-"end of the machine atwhich' said shaft B is "located-u The guiding members 26 are supported at the mavided with downwardly extended portions 28, and

said remote ends of said guiding elemen't'sare:

supported by supporting elements 'whicli are I secured to said downwardly extended portions and are fixed to the floor orother 'supportby which themachine is supported.- Each of. the

guiding elements is of channel shape in 'cross;-.. section as shown clearly in Figs; 5 and '6 andnthew sectional shape and are open attheir lower'i'endsi I It is to be noted from an inspection of Figs. and 6 that the guiding elements 26 are disposed'so that the transverse dimensions thereof are in substantial parallelism with respect to the straight portions l3b of the plate portions of the sipper-receiving members l2 carried by the upper flights of the sprocket chains 9. Also, as shown in Fig. 1, the machine ends of the guiding elements 26 are flared and facilitate passage of sippers into said guiding elements as will be hereinafter explained. The element 24, heretofore referred to as providing a support for one end of the heat-producing element, is supported by an arm 30 which in turn is supported by the guiding elements 26.

In the operation of the machine A the shaft 6 is rotated by an electric motor 3| to thereby cause the sprocket chains to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, motion being transmitted from said motor to said shaft 6 by a belt 32 which operates over pulleys 33 and 34 mounted on the motor shaft and shaft 6, respectively. During operationof the machine a supply of straight sippers S is maintained in the hopper l8 and as each sipper-receiving member I2, moving with the top flights of the sprocket chains 9 passes beneath the hopper, sippers will be discharged through the discharge opening of the hopper and will be received by alined notches I 6' of the sipper-receiving member. sipper-receiving member l2 moves from beneath the hopper the sippers carried thereby travel beneath the heat-producing element 20 and are subjected to the heat radiating from said heatproducing means. heat-producing means is so wound that very little heat is radiated therefrom at the end of the coil adjacent to the hopper, the windings of the resistance coil being of such character that the heat radiated from the coil is gradually increased longitudinally of the coil until the maximum heat is produced adjacent to the end of the coil remote from the hopper. Also the resistance coil is closer to the upper portions of the sipper-receiving members at the end of the coil which is remote from the hopper.

As' the sippers pass beneath the heat-producing element 20 the suspended central portions of said sippers are subjected initially to a relatively low degree of heat, which, because of the fact that the sippers are made of a thermo-plastic material, will cause said central portions of the sippers to sag, as shown in Fig. 4. As movement of the sippers longitudinally of the heatproducing element continues the central portions of the sippers are subjected to heat of gradually increased intensity and this gradually increased heat will cause the sippers to gradually sag to the position of the sipper shown'in Fig. 5 by the time the sipper reaches the position of the hottest and lowermost portion of the heat-producing element. When the sippers have sagged to the position of the sipper shown in Fig. 5 they contact with the top face of the angular plate portion of the sipper-receiving member by which they are supported, and as they pass fro-mbeneath the heatproducing element the sippers quickly cool in the bent condition they have assumed.

As the sippers are carried beyond the hottest end of the resistance coil of the heat-producing element 2|] the opposite ends of said sippers,

which extend beyond the sipper-receiving members as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, move into the oppositely disposed guiding elem'entsZB and are .fed

AS each 2- The resistance coil of the which follow them into the a'g uiding "elements. Eventually each sipper reaches the outer'ends' of the guiding elements when its opposite ends pass intothe downwardly'extended portions '28 of said guiding elements and' saidsipper isv guided by said portions 28 downwardly for discharge .into

a receptaclearranged beneath saiddow'nwardly extended portions 28.:

One manner of packaging thebent sippers as it, when it is receiving sippers fromxthemachine.

A, a frame 31 which comprises an upper rectangular flange 31a to which is secured a plurality of plates 3'"). The plates 31?) are arranged in spaced relation to provide a plurality of spaces 310 between adjacent plates each of which is only slightly wider than the diameter of'the sippers to be received by the receptacle 35; When the frame a 31 is associated 'with the receptacle 35 the spaced plates are disposed within the receptacle to divide its interior into a plurality of compartments and the rectangular flange 31a rests upon the top edge" of the body portion of the receptacle.

When the machine A is in operation the receptacle 35 with the frame 3'Iassociated therewith is disposed so that the flrst compartment provided at a wall of the box is located beneath the open bottoms ofthe downwardly extended portions 28 of the guiding elements 26. 'The sippers being discharged from the lower ends of the portions 28 of the guiding elements will fall into the compartment'in position toreceiv'e them, in the nested arrangement illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, and when the proper number of sippers have been discharged into the compartment the receptacle 35 is shifted to bring the next compartment into position to receive the sippersdischarged from the portions 28 of the guiding elements 26. This is continued until each compartment within the receptacle 35 has received its supply of sippers at which time the frame 31 is withdrawn from the receptacle and the cover of the receptacle is closed and sealed, a new receptacle having a frame 31 assembled therewith having in the meantime been arranged in position to receive sippers discharged from the machine.

I claim: I

l. A machine for producing bent sippers comprising a traveling conveyor, a heat-producing element disposed above said traveling conveyor in vertically spaced relation with respect thereto, and sipper-receiving members carried by said traveling conveyor for traveling movement therewith, said sipper-receiving members including spaced sipper-supporting portions between which unsupported portions of thermo-plastic sippers carried by the sipper-receiving members are suspended, said suspended portions of the sippers being carried by said sipper-receiving members beneath and in proximity to said heatproducing element whereby heat applied to said suspended sipper portionsby said heat-producing element will cause the sippers to sag to a bent condition, and said heat-producing element being so disposed with relation to said suspended portions of said thermo-plastic sippers that heat produced thereby is concentrated at a predeterlongitudinally of said guidingelements by sippers centto' opposite ends thereof between which un- 1 supported portions of thermo-plastic sippers carmined @portion.sonlyiofzitliersuspendedjiportionf a each thermo-plastic ssipper: ass-it. passes i beneath saidziheatep'roducing"element:

1 2. Azma'chine for producing bent. sippers comprising a traveling conveyor; atheat=producing" element: disposedtabove said.travelingxconveyor in verticallyzspaced relation 'with.respect.thereto, and'sippenreceiving. members carried :by. said traveling conveyor for traveling *movement" I therewith, said sipper receiving membersincluding spaced :sipper-supporting .Lportions between which"unsupported portionsar'of .therniote'plastic sippers carried by. r the *sippen-receiving members are suspended, said suspended. portions of: the

i sippers-being carried by said: sipper-receiving members beneathuand improXimit'y-to said heat 1 producing element' whereby heats-applied .to said suspended 'sipper portions by. said he'atf-produo 1 ing elementwill cause the-sippersto sag to a bentrcondition, said? sipper-receivingr'members being provided with angular surfaces/into :icontactwithfwhich the sipperssag as a'result of the 1 application of heat thereto :to establishthe bent sh'apesof the sippers."

l 3.- A machine 'for producing l-bent' sippers "com"- prising. a traveling iconveyo'r; a heat-producing element disposed above said :traveling conveyor i in vertically spaced relation with "respect thereto; and sipper-receiving members :ca'rried -by said i traveling con've'yorfoi traveling'r'novementthere 1 with;said'sipper receiving members rcom'prising each anlang'ular plate :portion provided with sip- Y l persupporting portions adjacent to opposite ends I thereofx'between which unsupported? portions of thermo-plasti'c sippers carried by the.sipper-re- I ceiving member aresuspended; said: suspended DOItiOHS'iOf :the'; sippers :'being;;carried; by-said sippere'receiving' member: beneath and "in .proximity to "said: heat producing. element'iwhereby. heat ;ap-

plied to .said'. suspended" sipper portions by :said

heat 'pro'du'cing 'element-willcause the-sippers to sag-rto azbent:condition. in. contact'with a surface of. 1' said'i angulamplate? portion 1* of .the sipper-receivingnnember: a

1 A- machine for producing bent sippers com-'- prisingrga traveling conveyor; .a heat-producing elementedisposed .above said travel-ingconveyor in vertically spaced relation with respectthereto, andsipperereceiving members carried by said. traveling conveyor for traveling. movement therewith, said sipper-receiving memberscomprising each an angular plate portion'provid'ed withjnotched sipper." supporting portions adja- 1 ried' by the sipperreceiVing member are-suspended,= said suspended portions of thesippers being l carried 'by 'said' sipper-receiving member portion of the sipper-receiving. member.

- 5.1Amachine for producing bent"sippersicom-" prising:- a. traveling conveyor; aheat-producing element disposed above-saiditraveling conveyor in vertically spaced relation with respect thereto,- sipperereceiving: members carried I by said traveling conveyor for: traveling movement there- 1 with, said .sipper receiving members comprising each an angular-plate portion provided with sipper supporting-portions adjacent r-to opposite ends thereof 7 between which. unsupported portions of thermo-plastic. sippers carried by the: sipper rea ceiving .member are;suspendedwgsaidr suspended portions of the sippers ;being-carried:by1said .sipper-receiving member beneath :and in: proximity to said;heat-producing element whereby-heat 'ap-;--

= pliedtofsaid suspended 'sipper portions bysaidr heat-producing. element will cause thesippers to sag to a bent conditionincontact'with a surface; of said angularplate portion ofthe sipper-receivev ing. member, and'a hopper-from whichlsippersa are fed to' said sipper-receiving :membersas said 1 sipper-receiving members move in proximityito? saidhopperp 6'; Amachine for producing" bent-sippers coma. prisinga traveling conveyor; a -heat-producing.

element disposed above said traveling-conveyor.

in vertically spaced rela-tioniwith' 'respectthereto," vsipper-receiving members .=carried' by sa-id 1' traveling conveyor for traveling movement-them with, said sipper-receiving members comprising each an angular plate portion provided with sip-. per supporting portions adjacentto' opposite endsthereof between which unsupported" portions-10f thermo-plastic sippers carried by the sipper-re-w; ceiving" member .are suspended; said suspended; portions of the sippers being carried by *said.-.sip-- per-receiving member: beneath and, in proximity: to said heat-producing element whereby hea-tzap plied to said suspended sipper-portions by said heat-producing element will cause the sippers tosag to a bent condition in -contact with a surface of said angular. plate portion of -the-sipper-receiving member, ahoppen from which sippers are fed to said;sipperreceiving-members as said.sip-; per-receiving members moveiniproximity to said hopper, andv guiding.meanswto which the bent sippers are delivered by said sipper-receiving members'for discharge from the machine. v 7. A'machine for producing bent-sippers comprising. a traveling. conveyor; a heat-producing element disposed above. said: ztraveling'. conveyor in vertically spaced relationwith respect there to, sipper-receiving. .members...carried by saidtraveling conveyor for traveling .movementtheree...

with, said sipper-receiving members: comprising; each an. angular plate. portion providedmwithl sipper supporting portionsv adjacent to. opposite ends thereof between whichhunsupported portions of thermo-plastic sipperscarried bythesipper-receivinga member are suspended: said suspended portions of the. sippersbeing carried by said sipper-receivingl member beneath and in proximity to said heat-producing elementrwhere by heat applied tosaid suspended sipper poi tions by said. heat-producing element wil1..cause the sippers. to sag to. a bent. condition in contact with a. surface. of said angular'plate portion of the.

sipper-receiving-member, a hopper from which sippers are fed to said sipper-receiving.-membersas saidsipper-receiving members move in. proX-.

'imity tosaid hopper, and guiding. means to which.

thereof between which unsupported portions of thermo-plastic sippers carried by the sipper-receiving member are suspended, said suspended portions of the sippers being carried by said sipper-receiving member beneath and in proximity to said heat-producing element whereby heat applied to said suspended sipper portions by said heat-producing element will cause the sippers to sag to a bent condition in contact with a surface of said angular plate portion of the sipperreceiving member, a hopper from which sippers are fed to said sipper-receiving members as said sipper-receiving members move in proximity to said hopper, and guiding means to which the bent sippers are delivered by said sipper-receiving members for discharge from the machine, said guiding means comprising spaced elongated guiding elements of channel shaped cross-section longitudinally of which the opposite end portions of the sippers are subjected to sliding movement.

9. A machine for producing bent sippers comprising a traveling conveyor, a heat-producing element disposed above said traveling conveyor in vertically spaced relation with respect thereto, sipper-receiving members carried by said traveling conveyor for traveling movement therewith, said sipper-receiving members comprising each an angular plate portion provided with sipper supporting portions adjacent to opposite ends of said angular plate portion of the sipper-re ceiving member, a hopper from which sippers are fed to said sipper-receiving members as said sipper-receiving members move in proximity to said hopper, and guiding means to which the bent sippers are delivered by said sipper-receiving members for discharge from the machine, said guiding means comprising elongated guiding elements disposed horizontally and spaced transversely of the machine, longitudinally of which the opposite end portions of the sippers i are subjected to sliding movement, and downwardly extended portions at the discharge ends of said guiding elements through which theopposite end portions of said sippers'pass for discharge of the sippers from said guiding means.

10. A machine for producing bent sippers,

comprising a traveling conveyor, a heat-producing element disposed above said traveling conveyor in vertically spaced relation with respect thereto, and sipper-receiving members carried by said traveling conveyor for traveling movement therewith, said sipper-receiving members including spaced sipper-supporting portions between which unsupported portions of thermoplastic sippers carried by the sipper-receiving members are suspended, said suspended portions predetermined portion only of the suspended portion of each thermo-plas'tic sipper as it passes beneath said heat-producing element, and said heat-producing element being elongated in the direction of the path of travel of said conveyor and being characterized by the ability to apply heat of gradually increased intensity to sippers carried by the sipper-receiving members as said sippers are moved longitudinally of the heatproducing element by said sipper-receiving members.

11. A machine for producing bent sippers comprising a traveling conveyor, a heat-producing element disposed above saidftraveling conveyor in vertically spaced relation with respect there to, and sipper-receiving membersv carried by said traveling conveyor for traveling movement therewith, said sipper-receiving members comprising each an angular plate portion provided with sipper supporting portions adjacent to opposite ends thereof between which unsupported portions of thermo-plastic sippers carried by the sipper-receiving member are suspended, said suspended portions of the sippers being carried by said sipper-receiving member beneath and in proximity to said heat-producing element whereby heat applied to said suspended sipper portions by said heat-producing element will cause the sippers to sag to a bent condition in contact with a surface of said angular plate portion of the sipper-receiving member, said heat-producing element including an electrical heat resistance coil elongated in the direction of the path of of the sippers being carried by said sipper-rethat heat produced thereby is concentrated at a 75 travel of said conveyor, said resistance coil being so produced as to apply heat of gradually insipper receiving members as said sippers are moved longitudinally of the heat-producing element by said sipper-receiving members.

12. A machine for producing bent sippers comprising a traveling conveyor, a heat-producing element disposed above said traveling conveyor in vertically spaced relation with respect thereto, and sipper-receiving members carried by said traveling conveyor for traveling movement therewith, said sipper-receiving members comprising each an angular plate portion provided with sipper supporting portions adjacent toopposite ends thereof between which unsupported portions of thermo-plastic sippers carried by the sipper-receiving member are suspended, said suspended portions of the sippers being carried by said sipper-receiving member beneath and in proximity to said heat-producing element whereby heat applied to said-suspended sipper portions by said heat-producing element will cause the sippers to sag to a bent condition in contact with a surface of said angular'plate portion of the sipper-receiving member, said heat-producing:

element including an electrical, heat resistance coil elongated in the direction of the path of travel of' said conveyor, said resistance coil being so produced as to apply heat of gradually increased intensity to the sippers carried by the sipper receiving members as said sippers are moved longitudinally of the heat-producing element by said sipper-receiving members, and the electrical heat resistance coil of the heat-producing element being inclined toward the sipper receiving members to position the end thereof 

